Butter slicer and dispenser



Feb. 25, 1941. B. oA WILSON ETAL BUTTER SLICER AND DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sent. 50, 1938 INVENTOR.

T w E F E E H C 0 u N 0 5 m 0.

ATTORN Feb.25,19471. n B QwnoN UAL y2,232,749

BTTER SLICER AND DISPENSER Filed sept. 3o, 19:58 2 sheets-sheet 2 .P LEJE Patented Feb. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES BUTTER SLICER AND DISPENSER Blanche 0. Wilson and Carl H. Leefeldt, Pasadena, Calif.

Application September 30,1938, Serial No. 232,560

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in butter slicers and dispensers.

The general object of our invention is to provide a novel butter dispenser which can be econornically manufactured.

A more specific object of our invention is to provide a novel dispensing device which is adapted to store butter in quantities and to keep the same in a fresh condition.

Another object of our invention is to pro-vide a novel rotatable storage compartment for bars of butter and wherein the butter may be sliced one slice at a time.

Another object of our invention is to provide a butter slicing machine including novel cutting means and novel means for varying the thickness of a slice of butter.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing our butter dispenser with part of the cover broken away;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 3-3 Fig 2; I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 4-4 Fig, 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan View with parts broken away showing the slicing apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view, similar to Fig. 5, with the parts in another position;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the follower in the raised position;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 8-8 Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 9-9 Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line I--I Fig 1; l

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line II-II Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line I2-I2 Fig. 1;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary central section of a modified Slicer;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary top plan view of the modified slicer; and

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary top plan view of a modified butter dispenser with part of the cover broken away.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters we have indicated our novel butter dispenser generally at I9. As shown the butter dispenser includes a base I I of wood or other material-having vertical supports I2 thereon which are secured to a bottom member I3 made of wood or other material of a container I4.

The bottom I3 is preferably cylindrical and includes a reduced upper cylindrical portion I5. 5 The top surface of the bottom I3 has a metal cover I 6 thereon having a downwardly directed peripheral flange I'I which snugly engages the reduced portion I5 and has its outer edge suitably secured to the lower end of a cylinder which 10 constitutes the side wall I8 of the container I4. The upper end of the wall I8 is provided with a snugly fitted removable cover I9.

The container I4 is provided with an annular partition member 20 spaced above the cover I6 15V and removably supported on brackets 2I. The member 20 includes an outer downwardly extending flange 22 and has a central opening 23 therein surrounded by a depending flange 24. 'I'he outer flange 2,2 slidably engages the container wall I8.

The partition member 20 has an aperture 25 therein in which a downwardly directed chute 26 is secured. The chute 26 extends downwardly through a rectangular aperture 2'I in the cover I6 and through an aperture 28 in the bottom I3. 25 The chute 26 is preferably rectangular and of such a size as to allow a standard quarter pound cake of butter to be placed therein.

As shown in Fig, 9', Ithe surface of the chute 26 with which the butter is adapted to come in con- 30 tact is provided with corrugations 29 to reduce friction. 'Ihe forward wall of the chute 26 is provided with a forward and downward projecting tongue 26' which engages the cutting edge I3 to act as a stop to limit the slicing movement.

The container I4 includes a plurality of storage compartments 30 which, as shown, are of the same sizey as the chute 26and have the walls corrugated as at 3I tofreduce friction. The compartments 30 are welded or otherwise suitably 40 secured at the upper and lower ends as at 32 at intervals to an annular wall 33 of an inner or second container 34 and. are adapted to be aligned with the chute 26 and are slidable on the member 20. The wall of the chute 26 is provided 45 with grooves 35 which receive shoes 36 pivotally mounted as at 3'I on the leading edge of the storage compartments 30 and normally free to fall to the position shown in Fig. 4. 'Ihe shoes 35 support the columns of butter so that there is no 50 wiping action as the container rotates.

The container 34 includes a liquid tight bottom 33 which has a central aperture 39 therein to receive a reduced boss 40 on a collar 4I. The collar 4I is held in position by a cap 42 secured 55 by screws 43 extending through suitable apertures in the bottom 38. As shown in Fig. 8 the collar 4| is provided with bores 44 which are aligned with each of the storage compartments 30 and are engageable by a catch device 45 which includes a housing 46 having a bore 41 therein which tightly receives a sleeve 48 provided with a reduced opening 49 at the outer end to retain a ball 58 therein which is normally urged outwardly by a spring 5I. The housing 46 is shown as secured to the cover I6 by screws 52 and a reinforcing plate 53.

The collar 4| and cap 42 include aligned bores 54 and 55 in which is fitted a shaft 56 secured therein by a pin 51. The upper end of the shaft 56 is provided with a keyway 58 which engages a key 59 on a shank of a removable turner 68 which is rotatably mounted in a bushing 6| secured in a central aperture 62 in the cover I9 and by which the container 34 may be rotated.A

A chamber 63 in the lower end of the collar 4I receives the upper end of a bushing 64 into which the lower end of the shaft 56 extends, and which is arranged withinaligned apertures 65 and 66 in the cover I6 and bottom I3.

An arm 61 rotatably mounted on the lower end of the bushing 64 is held in place by a nut 68 which engages a washer 69. The arm 61 includes upwardly projecting arcuate flanges 18 Which Sldably engage the lower side of the bottom I3. The arm 61 has an aperture 1| therein between the flanges 18.

A cutting plate 12 is suitably secured to the upper side of the arm 61 between the flanges 10 with the forward cutting edge bent upwardly as at 13 so as to prevent the butter sticking thereon while in the process of being sliced (see Fig. 4). As a further means of preventing the butter from sticking, the cutting plate 12 has downwardly directed corrugations as at 14 (see Fig. 12).

A U shaped member 15 is secured 'by rivets 16 to the lower side of the arm 61 in alignment with the aperture 1|, and at the opposite end from the cutting plate 12. A plate 11 is slidably mounted on the U shaped member 15 and is centrally notched at each end as at 15' to receive the upwardly extending portions of the member 15.

The plate 11 is normally held down by springs 19 secured in place by pins 80 arranged on the arm 61 and plate 11. The plate 11 may be vertically adjusted by adjusting an adjusting screw BI which threadedly engages the center of the U shaped member 15 and which includes a lock nut 82. Thus the thickness of the slices of butter may be determined.

The arm 61 has a second aperture 83 therein arcuately curved as at 84. The arm 61 also includes a handle 81 secured thereon by rivets 88 by means of which the slicer may be operated.

Directly above the chute 26 the cover I9 supports a follower 89 which comprises a shaft 98 having a handle 9| threadedly engaging the upper end thereof and a weight 92 threadedly engaging the lower end. A plate 93 is secured on the lower face of the weight by screws 94. The shaft 98 is slidably mounted in an aperture 95 in a housing 96 which is suitably secured in an aperture 91 on the cover I9.

'Ihe housing 96 includes a bore 98 in which is placed a ball 99 normally urged towards the shaft 98 by a spring |88 to engage in a bore IDI in the shaft 98 near the lower end thereof as shown in Fig. 7.

In operation the container 34 is preferably filled with ice and the storage compartments 38 are each provided witha cake of butter. The cover I9 is then replaced on the container I4 with the key 59 on the shank of the turner 68 positioned in the keyway 58 in the shaft 56. The follower 89 is aligned with the chute 26 and is held in the raisedvposition by the ball 99 engaging the bore I8I.

The container 34 and the storage compartments 30 are then rotated by means of the turner 68 `and shaft 56 until the ball 58 in the catch device 45 engages one of the bores 44 thereby assuring that one of the storage compartments 38 is in direct alignment with the chute 26 allowing the shoes 36 to swing downwardly into the grooves 35 and the butter to slide freely down within the chute 26 until it engages the upper surface of the cutting plate 12.

`The vfollower 89 is then released from the raised position by pressing on the handle 9|, thus allowing the weight 92 to rest on top of the butter assuring a steady downward movement as the butter is sliced.

By moving the handle 81 clockwise the butter is allowed to drop down until it engages the plate 11, whereupon the butter is ready to be sliced. By moving the handle anti-clockwise the forward cutting edge 13 slices the butter and again closes the chute 26 and compartments 38 from the outside atmosphere.

The operation is continued in this manner until the butter in the storage compartment being used is exhausted. Then the follower 89 is raised until the ball 99 catches in the bore I8I, whereupon the container 34 and storage compartments 38 are free to rotate until the next compartment is above the chute 26 and is secured bythe catch 45. This operation is repeated until the storage compartments are empty.

In Figs. 13 and 14 we show a modified slicing unit mounted on an arm |02 similar in all re- 'spects to the arm 61 previously described. The slicing unit includes a cutting plate |83 similar to the plate 12 and secured to the arm |82 consisting of forwardly projecting tongues |84 on both sides thereof on which is secured a thin wire I which slices the butter when the arm |82 is moved to the right.

In Fig. 15 we show a modified butter dispenser similar to the device previously described wherein the compartments 38 are secured directly to an annular outer wall 33 within the container 34 thereby admitting ice to three sides of the compartments.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that we have invented a novel butter slicer and dispenser which can be economically manufactured and which is highly efficient for the intended purpose.

Having thus 'described our invention, we claim:

1. In a butter slicing apparatus, a container having a bottom, a compartment member in said container, said container bottom having an opening, said member being in alignment with said opening, a frame pivotally mounted below said container and shifltable beneath said opening, said frame being apertured, a U-shaped rbar on said frame, a butter supporting plate, means to adjustably support said `plate on said bar for movement towards and from said opening, said frame having a cutting member thereon, and means for shiftingsaid frame.

2. In a butter slicing apparatus, a container having a bottom, a compartment member in sai-d container, said container bottom having .an opening, said member being in alignment with said opening, a frame pivotally mounted below said container and shiftable beneath said opening, said frame being apertured, a U-shaped bar on .the frame, a butter supporting plate slidallole on said bar, means tonormally urge said plate towards said opening, means to adjustably shift said plate .towards said opening and a cutting member on said frame, said cutting member including an elongated member having an upwardly inclined folded overload-ing cutting edge.

3. In a butter slicing apparatus, a container having a bottom, Ia plurality of compartment forming members rotatably mounted in said -container, said container bottom having an opening, said members being shiftable into alignment with said opening, a frame pivotally mounted below said container and shifftable beneath said opening, said frame being apertured, a U-shaped 'bar havin-g its ends secured to said frame and extending across said aperture, a butter supporting plate, means yto adjustably support said plate beneath said frame aperture, said frame having a cutting member on the upper surface thereof, said cutting member including an elongated metal member having an upwardly inclined folded over leading cutting edge, said cut-ting member having spaced downwardly `directed ribs thereon, and means for rotating said frame.

4. In a butter slicing apparatus, a container having a bottom with an aperture therein, a plurality of compartment forming members mounted in said container to rotate about a vertical axis, said compartment forming members being movable :to align with said bottom openingy a frame pivotally mounted below said container and shiftable 'beneath said bottom opening, said frame having an aperture therein, a U- shaped bar having its ends secured to said frame and including an intermediate portion extending across said aperture, a butter supporting plate having notches receiving said bar, said butter supporting plate being disposed beneath said frame aperture, resilient means engaging said frame and said plate to urge 'the -plate away from said bottom opening, and adjustable means on said bar urging said plate towards said opening, said frame having a cutting member mounted thereon adjacent to said plate.

5. 4In a butter slicing apparatus, a container having a bottom with an aperture therein, a plurality of compartment forming members mounted in said container to rotate about a vertical axis, said compartment forming members being movable to align with said bottom opening, pivoted shoes arranged at 'the lower end of each of said compartment forming members, a frame pivota'lly mounted below said container and shiftable beneath said bottom opening, said frame having an aperture therein, a U-shaped bar having its ends secured :to said frame and including an intermediate vportion extending across said aperture, a butter supporting plate having notches receiving said bar, said butter supporting plate being disposed beneath said frame aperture, resilient means Iengaging said frame and said plate to urge the plate away from said bottom opening, and adjustable means on said bar urging said plate towards said opening, said frame having a cutting member mounted thereon at the trailing end of said plate, said cutting member including a metal plate having .an inclined leading cutting edge and said cutting member having butter engaging ribs thereon.

6. In a butter slicing apparatus, an outer ccn- -tainer having a bottom Iand a top,`an inner container rotatably mounted within said outer container, a plurality of compartment members mounted on the outer lperiphery of said inner container, said bottom having achute, said compartment members being alignable with said chute when the inner container is rotated, releasable means to hol=d each compartment in line with said chute, each of said compartments having a pair of shoes in .the bottom thereof, said shoesv engaging the bottom of said outer container andv being pivotally mounted whereby they fall into a vertical position in said chut-e, .a follower on said top, said follower being adapted .to be aligned with said chute and having a butter engaging weighted lower end adapted to engage butter in the compartments, and a sector shaped butter slicing frame member mounted to rotate upon an axis coaxial with the axis of said inner container, said butter slicing member including spaced upwardly projecting arcuate flanges engaging the under surface of said |bottom, said frame member having a butter engaging portion at one end and a butter slicing portion at the other end, said butter slicing and butter engaging members vbeing .adjustable relative to each other .to vary the thickness of the slice, said inner container having an imperforate bottom and being adapted .to contain cooling material, said inner container including a shaft and means passing through said top for rotating said shaft.

'7. In a butter slicing apparatus, an outer container having a bottom and a top, an inner container rotatably mounted within said outer container, a plurality of Vcompartment members mounted on the outer periphery of said inner container, said bottom having a chute, said compartment members being alignable with said chute when the inner container is rotated, releasable means to hold each compartment in line wi-th said chute, each of said compartments having a pivotally mounted shoe in the bottom of said outer container and adapted to fall into a vertical position in said chute, and .a sector shaped butter slicing frame member mounted to rotate upon an axis coaxial with the axis of said inner container, said butter slicing member including spaced upwardly projecting arcuate flanges engaging the under surface of said bottom, said frame member having a butter engaging portion at one end and a butter slicing portion at the other end, said butter slicing and butter engaging members being adjustable relative `to each other to wary the thickness of the slice.

8, In a butter slicing apparatus, a container having a bottom and a top, a plurality of compartment members mounted in the container, said bottom having a chute, said compartment l members being alignalble with said chute when the container is rotated, releasable means to hold each compartment in line with said chute, each of said compartments having a shoe in the bottom of the container and being pivotally mounted whereby it falls into a vertical position in said chute, and a sector shaped butter slicing framel member mounted to rotate upon an axis coaxial with the axis of said container, said :butter slicing member including spaced upwardly projecting arcuate flanges engaging the under surface of sai-d bott-om, said frame member having a butter engaging portion at one end and a butter slicing portion at the other end, said butter slicing and butter engaging members being adjustable relative jto eadh other to vary the lthickness of the slice, said container having an imperforate bottom and being ladapted to contain cooling material, said container including a. shaft and means passing through said top for rotating said shaft.

9. In a butterslicing apparatus, an outer container having a bottom and a top, an inner container rotatably mounted Within said outer container, a plurality Aof compartment members mounted on the inner container, said bottom having a chute, said compartment members being alignable with said chute, releasable means to hold each compartment in line With said chute, each of said compartments having a pivoted shoe adapted to fall into a vertical position in saidchute, a slicing frame member mounted to rotate upon an axis coaxial with the axis of said inner container, said slicing member including spaced upwardly projecting arcuate flanges engaging the under surface of said bottom, said frame member having a butter engaging portion at one end and a butter slicing portion at the other end, said butter slicing and butter engaging members being adjustable relative to each other to vary the thickness of 'the slice, said inner container having an imperiorate bottom and being adapted .to contain cooling material, and means to rotate said inner container.

BLANCHE O. WILSON.

CARL H. LEEFELDT. 

